Conspiracy Narratives About the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Origins of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus: A Contribution to Polish-Czech Comparative Research
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.22.2025.98.17Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemic, infodemic, conspiracy theories, vaccinations, Czechia, Poland, health policyAbstract
This article presents the results of a comparative research study on belief in COVID-19-related conspiracy theories among social science students in Poland and the Czech Republic. The study investigates the relationship between susceptibility to disinformation and factors such as religiosity, trust in science, and the evaluation of institutional responses to the pandemic. Using a quantitative approach (CAPI survey), the authors identify notable differences between the two national groups, with Polish students showing a greater inclination toward conspiracy narratives. The article also explores correlations between such beliefs and negative assessments of the EU’s actions. The findings highlight the role of cultural context and psychological predispositions in shaping attitudes toward health-related misinformation, underlining the need for further research into the social and political consequences of the infodemic. The study contributes to political science by linking disinformation susceptibility with systemic trust and civic attitudes in Central Europe.
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